Portable power stations are becoming a popular piece of kit for caravanners. These gadgets can transform your experience, simultaneously charging several devices and giving you some useful flexibility. If you’ve been considering investing in one, the Black Friday sales are the ideal time to buy a portable power station, with big savings to be had.
To help you find the one for you, I’ve had a look around and am sharing my top portable power station picks that I’ve spotted in the Black Friday sales so far.
My favourite deal is for the Jackery Explorer 1000, which is currently available with a huge 50% saving on Amazon and is also currently the cheapest it’s ever been. Practical Caravan’s Editor-in-chief, Sarah, has one (as well as two SolarSaga 100W panels) and has found it an impressive piece of kit. Another standout offer is for the Bluetti EB3A, a shortlisted gadget at the recent Practical Caravan Awards – this is a more budget-friendly option, yet one that still impressed.
If you’re after more deals too, be sure to check out our Black Friday caravan accessories guide to see our top picks.
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My pick of the portable power station deals for caravanners in the Black Friday sale
Jackery Explorer 1000 £1049 now £524 (save 50%)
- Weight: 10kg
- Capacity: 1002Wh
- Outputs: 2 x USB-C ports, 1 X USB-A, 1 x QC 3.0 port, 1 x DC port, 2 x 230v AC socket
As I’ve already mentioned, the Editor-in-chief of Practical Caravan, Sarah, owns an Explorer 1000 (see her review of the Jackery Solar Generator 1000: the Explorer 1000 and SolarSaga 100W panels) and has found it a highly useful piece of kit. It’s currently available for £524 over Black Friday, an impressive 50% saving and the cheapest it’s ever been, according to price tracking tool Camel Camel Camel – in comparison, it was £629.40 at the recent Prime Day event in July. It’s not just the price that impresses me though.
Seven sockets provide some useful versatility, including two USB-C ports and a QC 3.0 port, with an example of its performance provided by the manufacturer saying it could charge a phone 100 times. A weight of 10kg should be fine for the majority of caravanners too. I’m also a fan of the LCD display – this makes it simple to track the battery life.
Bluetti EB3A £299 now £219 (save 27%)
- Weight: 4.6kg
- Capacity: 268wh
- Outputs: 1 x 12V socket, 2 x 12V DC sockets, 2 x USB-A ports, 1 x USB-C port, 1 x AC socket
One thing that I really appreciate in gadgets is simplicity – and Practical Caravan’s Deputy editor, Paul Critcher, certainly had no complaints on that score when he tested it (full review: Bluetti EB3A). This subsequently led to us shortlisting it at the Practical Caravan Awards 2024, where our judging panel rated it highly.
To operate, simply plug in your device and you’ll then be able to see the rate it is charging at – there’s even the option of downloading an app if you want to adjust the current or voltage output. It also offers a good selection of ports, and I particularly like the wireless charger it comes with too. If you’re looking to get a portable power station that is capable of keeping lower-powered items like a phone or laptop charged up and is more budget-friendly than the Explorer 1000 above, I’d say this could be just right for you.
Jackery Explorer 240 £259.99 no £155.99 (save 40%)
- Weight: 3kg
- Capacity: 240Wh
- Outputs: 1 x AC socket, 2 x USB-A ports, 1 x DC port
The Explorer 240 is the most entry-level option in our guide. It comes with four outputs, including two USB-A ports, but it doesn’t offer a USB-C port – if that’s an important factor, I’d recommend the Bluetti EB3A instead. I like how lightweight it is (it’s only 3kg) so the Explorer 240 will be easy to move around. I also like its smart appearance, which includes a display where you can see the remaining battery, as well as both the input and output power.
ECOFlow River 2 Max £549 now £411 (save 25%)
- Weight: 6.1kg
- Capacity: 512Wh
- Outputs: 1 x USB-C socket; 3 x USB-A sockets; 2 x AC sockets, 1 x DC socket, 1 x DC5521
Providing a capacity of 512Wh and an output of up to 1000W, the River 2 Max has an LFP battery and plenty of ports, so you can enjoy your adventures on the road. Coming with an inbuilt handle, you’ll be able to easily manoeuvre the 6.1kg portable power station too. I also like how you can use the EcoFlow app to monitor and control how it’s doing. One of my favourite features is how fast you can fully recharge it via the mains – plug it in and it will only take an hour, ideal if you only remember to top it up shortly before setting off on tour.
Anker 535 £599 now £329 (save 45%)
- Weight: 7.6kg
- Capacity: 512Wh
- Outputs: 2 x AC ports, 3 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, 1 x car outlet
The Anker 535 offers caravanners plenty of flexibility, thanks to a selection of seven ports. Something I like is the LED light bar it comes with, a useful feature that can come in useful if you’ve misplaced your torch or want to enjoy a bit more time outdoors in the evening. I’m also a fan of its energy-saving mode, which means it automatically switches off after fully charging your gadgets. Its digital display is clear and easy to read as well. Another feature I appreciate is the handle, which makes it simple enough to move about.
After more deals? Then take a look at the 3 standout Black Friday sat nav deals I’ve spotted for caravanners so far. We’ve also shared the six caravan cleaning products in the Black Friday sale that we’re tempted by, while the editor of Practical Caravan has also shared her favourite deals of the Black Friday sale.
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